Briefs -- Published May 21, 2013

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK - Fire season began Monday in Yosemite National Park, park officials announced.

The Record

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK - Fire season began Monday in Yosemite National Park, park officials announced.

The start of the season means the park's full complement of equipment and crews are now in place to battle wildfires.

Park officials said that "vegetation is drying out faster than average due to the low snowpack the park received over the last two winter seasons, making for fire danger above average for this time of year."

Park officials said that pile burning will cease, and they urged visitors to be extremely careful to extinguish campfires.

SAN ANDREAS - Kites will fly again over San Andreas on June 2 as the San Andreas Merchants Association hosts its Kites Over Calaveras festival at the San Andreas Ball Park on Mountain Ranch Road.

The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There will be kite flying demonstrations, a candy drop, a kite parade, and food and refreshments sold by local nonprofit organizations. Admission is free.